People In Brief

FDA creates new position: Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock will aid Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach in supervising FDA's scientific and medical regulatory activities as head of the newly created Office of the Chief Medical Officer, FDA announces Jan. 19. An agency employee since 1986, Woodcock has been Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and has worked in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Most recently she was Deputy Commissioner for Operations. Woodcock has been particularly active in leading the Critical Path Initiative (1"The Gray Sheet" Jan. 9, 2006, p. 4).... And names new COO: John Dyer becomes FDA Deputy Commissioner of Operations and Chief Operating Officer, bringing nearly 30 years of government experience in upper-level management. Dyer will help strengthen management, business processes and information technology at the agency, FDA says. Additionally, he will assist other deputy commissioners and the Chief of Staff in providing management leadership and oversight of the agency. Dyer most recently served as COO for CMS. He also has worked in the Social Security Administration and the Executive Branch Office of Management and Budget (2"The Gray Sheet" July 19, 2004, p. 24)...